For many references to the neighbouring country, which was recently involved in terror activity in India, has turned the crunchy biscuits of Karachi Bakery and the juicy Mysore Pak sour

Names, as it turns out, are dangerous things. They can trigger outrage, protests, petitions – and now, apparently, indigestion. Just ask Mysore Pak, the poor little sweet that has landed smack in the middle of a political food fight.

First it was Karachi Bakery and now Mysore Pak. For many references to the neighbouring country, which was recently involved in terror activity in India, has turned the crunchy biscuits of Karachi Bakery and the juicy Mysore Pak sour.

Surely, Shakespeare must be turning in his grave for writing such a false quote: What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.

How wrong? With Karachi as prefix and Pak as suffix how could the confectionary be sweet whatever it might be? For the bard of Stratford-upon-Avon a name may be just a label which doesn’t change the underlying essence or quality of something. But for those imbued with patriotic fervour it means a different thing altogether.

For many Mysore Pak is just a deliciously ghee-laden treat from Karnataka. You ate it, loved it, and maybe passed out for a bit from the sugar high. But now? Now it’s a threat to national sentiment—all because of that three-letter word at the end: Pak.

First it was Karachi Bakery under siege. Never mind that it’s based in Hyderabad and was founded by a Sindhi who migrated during Partition. The logic was simple: Karachi = Pakistan = Not Okay. Never mind the biscuits are more Indian than chai. The prefix alone is enough to make people lose their crumbly, buttery minds.

Now, in the sequel nobody asked for, we’ve turned our sweet wrath on Mysore Pak. Because – gasp – it ends in Pak. That’s right. Apparently, even syllables are now suspicious.

Let’s be clear: Mysore Pak has absolutely nothing to do with Pakistan. It wasn’t invented in Lahore, it doesn’t have a visa, and it hasn’t shown up on any border radar. The “Pak” in Mysore Pak comes from the Kannada word Paaka, which means “to cook” or “to make a syrup.” In other words, it’s the sugary glue holding the whole delicious thing together. It has more to do with your grandmother’s kitchen than geopolitics.

The great-grandson of the original inventor is now into the news, looking understandably perplexed, saying there’s no reason to call it anything else. “Pak,” he explained, also means “pure.” But try explaining that to someone who’s already halfway through a WhatsApp forward about how Mysore Pak is secret propaganda.

Some enterprising folks have suggested renaming the sweet as Mysore Shree, which sounds less like a dessert and more like a mild-mannered uncle who runs a printing press.

The man who gave us Hamlet didn’t foresee Mysore Pak becoming the real tragedy. Somewhere in the literary heaven, he must have choked on his metaphor. Shakespeare must be possibly Googling the word Paaka. Clearly, the Bard never faced the wrath of social media, or tasted the modern-day outrage that comes when a name sounds remotely foreign.

We live in strange times. Where syllables are suspicious. Where desserts are detained for questioning. Where sweets must prove their citizenship.

Let’s take a moment to imagine what would happen if we extended this logic further. Will Lahori Kulfi be deported next? Will someone try to rename it? At this rate, even jalebi might be labelled suspicious for being too twisted.

This is culinary paranoia at its worst.

Look, nobody’s saying patriotism isn’t important. But we can love our country and still let our sweets be sweet.

So the next time someone clutches their pearls at the mention of Mysore Pak, offer them a piece. Let them taste it. Let the ghee work its magic. And then gently explain: this isn’t political—it’s just dessert. If there’s one thing that can unite us all, surely it’s the universal love of things cooked in alarming amounts of sugar and clarified butter.

As for Mysore Pak? Relax. It’s just Kannada for delicious.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today

Dated May 25,2025

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 Pahalgam is not just a headline. It is a scar — a reminder of what happens when ignorance and extremism take the wheel and it’s time for scholars, leaders and everyday Muslims to reclaim the narrative, to echo the true message of Islam: peace, compassion, justice

The bloodshed in Pahalgam, Kashmir, has once again left a dark stain not only on the serenity of the region but on the conscience of humanity. The air, once filled with the calm of natural beauty and the joy of wandering tourists, was shattered by bullets and blood. What started with a gunman demanding to know a man’s religion ended in a massacre. Shots rang out, bodies dropped — innocent lives, mostly tourists, were cut short in a frenzy of hatred masked as faith.

This was not an act of religion. This was not Islam.

The men who carried out this cowardly attack claim to defend their faith. In reality, they betrayed it. The Qur’an speaks of justice, of mercy, of the sacred value of life: “Whoever kills a soul… it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.” These words, divine and clear, stand in stark contrast to the bloodlust of those who twist scripture for political vengeance and extremist fantasy.

Terrorism is not Jihad

Terrorism is not jihad. Let’s be unequivocal: Jihad, in its truest and deepest meaning, is a struggle for righteousness, for justice, for self-betterment — not the slaughter of unarmed civilians. These terrorists hijack Islam to justify their violence, but all they accomplish is the desecration of its image and the furthering of Islamophobia worldwide. They do not uplift Islam — they bury it under the bodies of the innocent.

Pahalgam is not just a headline. It is a scar — a reminder of what happens when ignorance and extremism take the wheel. It is a call to all people, especially within the Muslim community, to speak louder than ever against those who tarnish their faith. This is a time for scholars, leaders and everyday Muslims to reclaim the narrative, to echo the true message of Islam: peace, compassion, justice.

The Qur’an speaks of justice, of mercy, of the sacred value of life: “Whoever kills a soul… it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.” These words, divine and clear, stand in stark contrast to the bloodlust of those who twist scripture for political vengeance and extremist fantasy

The world mourns with Kashmir. The families of the slain mourn with the world. And we must all demand more —not just security, but sanity. Not just justice, but truth. If we stay silent, the terrorists win — not only by taking lives but by distorting the truth. Let us not let that happen. Not in Pahalgam. Not anywhere.

Terrorism has no Religion

According to reports, the perpetrators singled out civilians, asked their names, and opened fire — an act that chillingly mirrors other hate-fueled killings under the false guise of religious piety. This tragedy not only tears apart the social fabric of a peaceful region but also stands in absolute contradiction to the core teachings of Islam.

Islam, far from being a religion of compulsion or coercion, is built upon the foundation of free will, mercy and justice. The Quranic message is clear: “There is no compulsion in religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:256).

The idea that someone can kill in the name of Islam for not adhering to its tenets is both theologically incorrect and morally reprehensible.

An instructive incident from the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) life addresses the sinfulness of judging another’s faith or using violence against someone on the assumption of disbelief.

During one of the battles, a Companion of the Prophet killed a man who, at the last moment, uttered the Shahada — the Islamic testimony of faith: La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah). The Companion believed the man only said it out of fear of death and not from genuine belief. When the Prophet (PBUH) heard this, he was visibly angered and asked:

“Did you tear open his heart to see whether he had faith or not?” (Sahih Muslim)

This powerful question was a rebuke. The Prophet (PBUH) repeatedly condemned the act and emphasised that no one has the right to judge the intentions behind a person’s faith, especially in moments of vulnerability. His words echo today as a direct condemnation of those who claim to judge others’ beliefs and take lives in the process.

Islam’s teachings are explicitly clear about the role of the Prophet and his followers when it comes to spreading the faith. The Qur’an says:

“The Messenger’s duty is only to convey [the message], and Allah knows what you reveal and what you conceal.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:99).

Another verse states: “So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder. You are not over them a controller.” (Surah Al-Ghashiyah 88:21–22).

These verses establish a foundational principle: Islam is a religion of da’wah (invitation), not domination. The Prophet himself never forced belief upon anyone. He preached with wisdom, patience, and compassion. The Quran does not endorse violence as a method of propagation. The role of a Muslim is to invite with beautiful preaching — not to coerce or judge.

One of the most repeated values in the Qur’an is the sanctity of life: “Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land — it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:32)

This verse equates the unjust killing of one person to killing all of humanity. The Quran does not differentiate between the life of a Muslim and a non-Muslim in its ethical view of justice. Every human soul is sacred.

Modern Terrorism

The terrorists who carried out the attack in Pahalgam and others like them claim to act in the name of Islam, but their actions are a betrayal of its very foundation. Their ideology is rooted not in the Quran or the Prophet’s Sunnah, but in political fanaticism and ignorance.

Their act of asking names and killing based on identity is reminiscent of the practices of extremist cults, not followers of the final Messenger of Allah, Rahmatan lil ’Aalameen (a mercy to all the worlds).

As fellow humans, Muslims stand in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack and denounce this barbarism without qualification. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not command judgment or violence — he taught mercy, patience, and leaving judgment to God alone.

Those who misuse his name and the name of Islam have torn hearts, but have failed to understand his message. Let the world hear it loud and clear: Islam condemns all forms of terrorism, and faith cannot be spread with the barrel of a gun.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in Telangana Today

Dated April 25,2025

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